biology enzymes unit 2

An enzyme is a protein which speeds up chemical reactions as they act as a biological catalyst. Enzymes have many uses; they're found in digestion where they break large food molecules into smaller ones. The enzyme in your mouth is called amylase, whichis found in your saliva and breaks starch into glucose.

Some enzymes in your stomach need pH 1 which is acidic whereas other enzymes in your stomach need a higher pH. Your liver secretes bile to neutralize the acid and your small inestine makes enzymes such as protease which breaks down proteins into amino acids.

The minumum amount of energy required for a reaction to take place is called activation energy. Enzymes lower the activation energy of reaction.

The enzymes are specific to the shape of the substrate, the active site breaks down bonds so the larger molecules become smaller molecules and they're more useful.

The active site breaks the bonds between molecules but denatures if the pH is…